にほんごボックス

    The YouTube channel にほんごボックス launched around a year ago and has been publishing content regularly ever since, meaning they already have over a hundred videos to choose from. The intention behind the channel is to help non-native speakers of Japanese become familiar with natural, everyday language. That is, not the kind of Japanese used in textbooks to illustrate grammar points, but the kind you're most likely to hear on a daily basis in Japan.

    Topics covered range from explanations of how to use similar expressions like 気持ちが悪い, 気分が悪い, and 機嫌が悪い (backed up by lots of examples and explained to a reluctant stuffed toy chameleon), interviews with exchange students about their experiences studying Japanese, and closeups on JLPT grammar points.

    While the less-than-perfect sound quality and background music can sometimes make the dialogue harder to catch, the host Matsumoto, his guests, and actors doing dialogues, all speak clearly, and the pace is on the slower end of natural speech. Japanese TV-style subtitles are provided for most of the conversations, dialogues and explanations, with furigana added to more advanced kanji like 語彙ごい. Most kanji don't have furigana though, making it good for kanji reading practice too. For intermediate learners out there, this channel is a great resource for improving your practical listening skills while also learning more about study techniques, grammar and everyday expressions, and working on your reading skills to boot!

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